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WHEELING, W. Va. – For the first time in program history, Urbana University baseball swept a Mountain East Conference road series following Sunday's 10-1 & 7-6 victories over Wheeling Jesuit University.
UU (14-29) had only swept a four-game series against an MEC opponent once before – at home versus West Liberty in 2014 – until the Blue Knights caught fire at the plate and outscored WJU 33-8 over the weekend.
In Sunday's first game, UU cruised past the Cardinals after Tyler Dellerman's grand slam in the fourth inning put the Blue Knights ahead 7-1. Dellerman (2 for 5) finished with a career-high five RBI and ran his freshman-record home run total to eight with his fourth long ball of the week.
Daniel Quiroz went 3 for 3 including an RBI single to start the six-run rally in the fourth. Briley Harlan and Justin Donovan each had two hits. UU outslugged the hosts 13-5 and didn't commit an error in the field.
On the mound, left-hander Dylan Whisman (1-3) earned his first collegiate win with a steady complete-game outing. The freshman ran into trouble in the second when he surrendered a run on three hits, but he soon found his groove to put away 17 of the final 19 batters faced.
WJU starter Tanner Evans (1-4) took the loss after giving up eight runs (two earned) on nine hits and four walks in five-and-a-third. Shortstop Adam Dennison led the Cards with two hits.
In the second game, UU jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first after back-to-back RBI hits from Robbie Guerrero III and Dellerman. Guerrero's hit went for a double to left center and set the new D2 era program record for most RBI in season with 42.
The Blue Knights built a 4-1 lead in the top of the fifth on Mickey Losey's RBI single, but the Cardinals struck for four runs in the bottom half to take their first lead of the day. WJU right fielder Zach Brumling recorded a bases-loaded double to spark the home team.
Then, both teams traded runs in the sixth inning as WJU entered the seventh with a 7-6 lead and three outs away from avoiding the sweep. However, UU rallied on three walks to load the bases and then freshman Briley Harlan stepped up with a clutch two-out single to bring across the go-ahead runs.
Taylor Lane closed the door in the final frame for his third save, while Ryan Townsend was credited his third relief win of the season.
Three Blue Knights registered a pair of hits, including Chase Carney (2- for 4), Deion Tubbs (2 for 5) and Harlan (2 for 3, 2 RBI). UU outhit WJU 11-9 in the nightcap as both teams combined for zero errors.
WJU's Zach Luciano suffered the blown save and was dealt the loss. Third baseman Jacob Murray collected a pair of hits to lead the Cards in Game 2.
// UP NEXT
UU hosts Notre Dame College in the home finale this Friday at Blue Knight Field. The team will host Senior Day recognition prior to the 1 p.m. first pitch. Then, the Blue Knights are set to close the season Sunday afternoon with a doubleheader at NDC.
